Tea party favorite Ted Cruz had nearly 14 times more cash on hand as of July 11 than his establishment-backed opponent, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, to power through the final run for the July 31 Republican runoff, according to the latest federal campaign reports.

The former state solicitor general had about $1.5 million in his campaign war chest, compared to the $107,343 in Dewhurst's campaign reserves, Federal Election Commission reports detailing their finances from July 1 to July 11 show. Cruz saw $522,602 in net donations during that period, while Dewhurst pulled in just $160,392 for the race to replace retiring Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Dallas.

"Well, clearly, you know, Dewhurst can put as much money as he wants to into the race," Novak said. "So, what­ever he has right now is subject to change, just in terms of not only fundraising from supporters, but what's in his wallet - with him more than with many other candidates - is kind of an open question."

Dewhurst would rank among the richest U.S. senators, if elected, with an average net worth of $177 million. His campaign has spent $18.8 million this election cycle, $16.5 million of which he loaned to himself.

Dewhurst also donated $3,000 to himself between July 1 and July 11, according to the reports. That brought his total self-donations to $22,147. While individuals cannot contribute more than $2,500 to a candidate per election, there is no ceiling on how much a candidate can donate to his or her own cause.

Funding sources

The Cruz campaign has spent about $7.3 million, according to the reports. Cruz has lent his campaign slightly more than $1 million, but he has not donated any funds to his own Senate bid.

Each Republican has raised comparable totals from individuals.

Dewhurst has received $7.2 million from individuals, slightly less than the $7.9 million in individual contributions funneled into the Cruz campaign.

"We have raised more money in smaller amounts, because all over Texas, grass-roots activists are rallying behind this campaign," said Cruz spokesman James Bernsen.

More than a third of Dewhurst's money for the July 1-July 11 period closing into the runoff - $49,500 - came from political action committees and groups. Cruz pulled in $16,000 from those sources.

National comparison

Cruz spent a little more on campaigning in the reporting period than the lieutenant governor, spending $536,684 compared to Dewhurst's $498,721.

The Texas Senate race is the most expensive in the country, according to the Center for Responsive Politics, with nearly $37 million spent to date. It also has raised the second-most of national Senate contests, at $39 million, behind the $47 million raised for the Massachusetts Senate battle between Sen. Scott Brown, R-Mass., and his Democratic challenger, Elizabeth Warren.